How the torture story is reported in Europe.

[JDPriestly]

Here is my rough translation of reports in the Austrian newspaper Der Standard. (Corrections or improvements on the translation are welcome.) This is derived from a New York Times story, but I think it is worth noting what foreign papers deem important enough to report about the torture story:

According to news reports, the use of the controversial interrogation methods against the suspected Al Qaeda member, Abu Zubadeyah was ordered over objections (or differing opinions) of the staff performing the interrogations. Although the staff that was concerned with Zubadeyah's interrogation stated that they thought that the prisoner had already provided all his knowledge, higher ranking CIA members ordered water-boarding and other questionable interrogation methods, according to the New York Times based on the statement of a CIA member and a footnote in one of the recently published secret memos about the interrogation methods.



Already, with milder treatment, Zubadeyah had delivered worthwhile information according to the New York Times. The use of more brutal methods resulted in no breakthroughs, but was very difficult (challenging to or unpleasant for) the interrogators. Even those who believed in the effectiveness of the methods were traumatically affected by the deep human suffering and degradation they saw, a CIA employee told the newspaper.

Die Anwendung umstrittener Verhörmethoden gegen das mutmaßliche Al-Kaida-Mitglied Abu Subaidah wurde laut einem Zeitungsbericht gegen die Überzeugung der Verhörbeamten angeordnet. Obwohl die mit Subaidahs Verhör befassten Beamten ihre Auffassung dargelegt hätten, dass der Häftling bereits all sein Wissen preisgegeben habe, hätten hochrangige Mitarbeiter des US-Geheimdienstes CIA die Methode des simulierten Ertrinkens, das sogenannte Waterboarding, und andere umstrittene Verhörmethoden angeordnet, berichtete die "New York Times" (NYT) unter Berufung auf Geheimdienstmitarbeiter und eine Fußnote in einem der jüngst veröffentlichten Geheim-Memos über die Verhörmethoden.

. . . .


Bereits bei milderer Behandlung hatte Subaidah nach NYT-Informationen wertvolle Informationen geliefert. Die Anwendung brutaler Methoden habe hingegen keinen Durchbruch erzielt, den Verhörbeamten habe sie aber zu schaffen gemacht. Selbst für die, die an eine Wirksamkeit der Methoden glaubten, habe "der Anblick dieser Tiefe menschlichen Elends und Erniedrigung eine traumatische Wirkung" gehabt, sagte ein Geheimdienstmitarbeiter der Zeitung.

. . . .
http://derstandard.at/

So, this is what the Austrian newspaper picked up from the New York Times. I think it is all the more embarrassing and all the more a condemnation of the conduct of the Bush administration in that this is such report focuses on how demeaning and traumatic it was for the torturers to be required to carry out the unnecessary cruelty.

Ordering the torture was not only a crime against those who were tortured, but also against those who were ordered to perform the torture.

[SurfingScientist]

1. Thanks! k&r!!! (n/t)

[depakid]

2. Interesting points and a focus on the CIA we haven't seen in the US media

[Turbineguy]

3. It's in the nature

of state security organizations to attract people who will be over-zealous in the conduct of what they see as their job i.e: protecting the state from its enemies. People look for the widest latitude in making their job what they think is easier.

How many policemen would be happy to see the last of Miranda and Probable Cause rules? How many prosecutors would have their lives made easier without Due Process?

It is therefore the job of government to ensure that such things do not happen. The Bush Administration seems to have gone out of its way to do just the opposite. For this they deserve Miranda, Probable Cause and Due Process.

[DemReadingDU]

4. I worry for our soldiers

I can only imagine the horrors that will be dealt to our captured military.

[Mira]

5. The translation is very good, the story is abyssmally sad. I worry about our

soldiers, all of them, re-integrating into our society when they come back. And I worry greatly about our national conscience and our shame if nothing is done.
K&R

[Stinky The Clown]

6. I'm not certain, but isn't Der Standard a questionable source?

Again, I am not sure, but aren't they a sort of loony left outfit?

[csziggy]

7. I son't know about Der Standard but "loony left outfit" is how some have described DU

:rofl:

[Stinky The Clown]

8. Heh ......

That's a story of a different color ...... or a different horse .... or a colored horse ....... or something like that! :)

[JDPriestly]

9. No. They are a solid, respectable newspaper in Austria.

They are pretty middle of the road and reliable, but then most Europeans are more socialist than the Democrats. Sarkozy is supposed to be pretty conservative by European standards, but he would be further left than even Kucinich, I think in many respects.

You may not have heard of Der Standard because it is Austrian. German newspapers tend to be better known -- like Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which I think is more widely known perhaps.

[Blackhatjack]

10. When the victim tortures the torturer, the transformation is complete...

I don't see any way those who ordered the torturing, over the objections of the interrogators, can possibly be entitled to the 'safe harbor' of immunity from prosecution.

I remember when 911 happened there were concerns that we might become like those who attacked us in venting our revenge on those responsible for so many innocent people killed.

Our leaders during that time certainly led us down that road.... and the proof is indisputable.

[knowbody0]

11. that is what has been missing from all our criticism

thank you!

[DearAbby]

12. That is a perspective I hadn't thought of

Thank you for posting the translation.